The Philadelphia InquirerWhen Andrew Miller works on his Mount Airy home, his training as a certified lead-dust sampling technician comes in very handy.
"I put drop cloths down everywhere, have HEPA [high-efficiency particulate air] filters on all the vacuum cleaners, and wet wipe every surface to make sure I have picked up all of the dust," said Miller, owner of Ally Services, an environmental building and contracting services firm.
Such precautions are necessary. In Philadelphia alone, the Census Bureau's 2009 American Housing Survey showed, 91.6 percent of residences were built before 1978, the year that lead in paint was outlawed.READ MORE

Safety + Health MagazinePetitions that request a review of OSHA's recently issued rule on silica exposure will be consolidated in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court.
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation selected the court at random, according to the April 12 consolidation order.READ MORE

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Window Film MagazineIt's the one day of the year dedicated to the window film industry — National Window Film Day. Held annually on April 30, the celebration is now in its third year. Tinters, municipalities and manufacturers have plans to recognize the product. Here's what some are doing.
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Construction DiveSpring is here, and that means eager buyers are out in full force trying to make a deal for the perfect home. While each season brings new challenges for potential homebuyers, real estate professionals and homebuilders, much of this year's story is about low inventory and rising prices, and it doesn't look that's about to change anytime soon.READ MORE

Small Business TrendsAs CEOs, we've all been there, right? One day, your employees are performing at their peak, and then the next, they become lazy employees and won't lift a finger. You don't want to bring down the hammer, because that might decrease productivity and encourage rebellion.
So, seriously, what do you do?READ MORE

By Michael J. Berens While "smart" homes remain a vision more than a reality, new smart products and services continue to flow into the market. Along with their "wow" factor, they offer a certain level of convenience and control, although at a price beyond the reach of most consumers. The best applications of smart technologies have been in the area of sustainability. Combining functionality with ease of use, these products help homeowners meet their energy and water conservation goals (and budgets).
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Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.Construction shoulders a bigger tax burden than any other industry in the U.S. with an effective rate over 30 percent, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Associated Builders and Contractors responded to the report by urging lawmakers to pass tax reform that would encourage economic growth by lowering rates for both corporate and pass-through businesses.READ MORE

Business.comResponsive Web Design became an important trend as Web professionals sought to provide a consistent user experience to the rising use of mobile devices and tablets.
Last year, we saw the tipping point for digital media where more time was spent on mobile devices (51 percent) than the desktop (42 percent). This staggering change was anything but a surprise.
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